Floor-surfacing machine.



No. 798,455. PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905. M. L. SGHLUETER.

FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE. APPLICATIION FILED DEG. 7,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTED AUG. 29, 1905.

M. L. SGHL'UETBR. FLOOR SURFAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. '1, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wilda/71116282 Bl Mil /4L.

Guam.

ANDREW B. GRAHAM :0. wow umumnvuzas. WASHINGTON. u. c.

'tion of the machine.

MAX L. SOHLUETER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FLOOR-SURFACING MACHINE- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1905.

Application filed December 7, 1904. Serial No. 235,906.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MAX L. SoHLUETnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor-Surfacing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in floor-surfacing machines; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva- Fig. 2 is a front or end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa longitudinal vertical section on line 4 4: of Fig. 5, the motor and blower being removed. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the clutch. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6, showing the feather of the clutch. Fig. 8 is aplan of the blank sheet wrapped about the abrading cylinder or drum. Fig. 9 is a perspective of the abrading or surfacing drum with the abrading-sheet partially wrapped thereover. Fig. 10 is an enlarged elevational view of the bearing for the surfacing-drum and way therefor, and Fig. 11 is a cross-section on line 11 11 of Fig. 10.

The object of my invention is to construct a floor-surfacing machine which will insure uniform results for any given area operated on, such uniformity resulting from the ready adjustment of the pressure of the operating rollers or drums against the surface operated upon. By surfacing-machine I of course contemplate not only sandpapering-machines, but any polishing or finishing machine, its particular character depending on the nature of the abrading or operating surface with which the rollers or drums are provided.

A further object is to construct a machine in which the operating rollers or drums can be readily set to any degree of pressure against the floor, and, finally, to construct a machine possessing further and other advantages better apparent from a detailed description of the invention, which is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, F represents a suitable frame or housing of the machine on top of which is mounted an electric motor M, to which the power is supplied by the wires w w, leading overhead to any source of electricenergy. (Not shown.) E represents a switch for turning on or off the power thus supplied, all as well understood in the art. Leading from the top of the frame is a pipe P, whose upper end communicates witha fan B, discharging into a sack A. The fan is driven from the motor by a belt connection C.

The above features are well understood, and no special detailed description is required therefor, as they form no part of my present invention.

Carried at one end of the shaft of the motor is a pinion 1, which meshes with a gear-wheel 2, mounted on the side of the frame F, the gear-wheel 2 meshing in turn with a larger gear 3 at the adjacent end of the main operatin'g-shaft S, mounted transversely between the depending sides of the frame or housing F. The shaft S rotates constantly in one and the same direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. On the shaft S, adjacent the gear 3, is secured a sprocket-wheel 4, from which passes forwardly a sprocket-chain 5 over-the terminal sprocket-pinion 6 at the adjacent end of the shaft of the surfacing or abrading roller or drum 7. From the connections described this drum 7 rotates in the same direction as the gear-wheel 3, this rotation being toward the lower edge or bottom of the frame or housing F. On the shaft S, within the frame F, is secured a gear-wheel 8, which meshes with a second gear 9 on a second shaft 10 on a higher plane, but parallel with the shaft S, this gear connection imparting to the shaft 10 a rotation contrary to that of the shaft S. The shaft 10 is provided at one end with a sprocket-wheel 11, from which leads a chain 12 over a sprocket-pinion 6 at the adjacent end of the shaft or axis of a second drum 7 the latter, from the connections described, also rotating toward the bottom or lower edge of the frame F. The drums 7 7 by thus rotating in the directions respectively indicated therefor sweep the particles an dust abraded by them into the interior of the housing or frame F, whence they are drawn up through the pipe P by the action of the fan B and deposited into the bag or receptacle A.

As above'stated, the shaft S and the motorshaft revolve constantly in the same direction; but as the machine operates over the surface or floor to be finished and polished it becomes necessary to drive the machine over the floor first in one direction and then the other. This is accomplished by the following gear mech- ITO rotation to the sprocket 14 in the same direction with itself. Now from the smaller section of the sprocket 14 leads a chain 18, which in turn passes over the sprocket-wheel19,

whose hub loosely revolves about a shaft 20, .1

(parallel to the shaft 8,) mounted on the frame F and carrying the drive-Wheels 21 21. The hub of the gear-wheel 19 forms one member of a clutch and is coupled to the shaft 20 in a manner presently to be explained. For

the present, however, it is sufficient to state that from the connections described the sprocket 19 will revolve in the same direction as the shaft S. From the larger section of the sprocket-wheel leads a chain 22, which passes over a sprocket-pinion 23 on the shaft 10, which latter shaft, as already described, rotates in a direction opposite to the shaft S, so that from the connections described the sprocket 15 will likewise rotate in a direction opposite to that of the shaft S. Leading from the smaller section of the sprocket 15 leads a chain 24 to a sprocket-wheel 19, likewise loosely mounted on the shaft 20, said sprocket 19, as obvious, rotating in the same direction of the sprocket 15-that is to say,

opposite to that of the shaft S and opposite to thatof the sprocket 19. Like the hub of the latter, however, that of the sprocketl9' also constitutes one section of a clutch which is capable of being coupled to the shaft 20. It will thus be apparent that the direction of rotation imparted to the wheel-shaft will depend on which of the two sprocket-wheels 19 19 is coupled thereto, it being understood that the direction of travel of the machine depends on the direction of rotation imparted to the wheel-shaft. On the outside of each wheel 19 19, fixed to the shaft 20, is a collar 25 25, against which the hub of the adjacent wheel can be forced .into frictional engagement, so as to practically couple the said wheel to the shaft. This is accomplished as follows: Slidingly feathered to the shaft 20, between the sprockets 19 19 and rotatable therewith, as is usual in this class of devices, is a clutch member 26, between whose terminal heads the same is loosely spanned by the adjacent end of a vertically-disposed clutchlever 27, pivoted to the axle 13, the short arm of the lever being forked, the fork members receiving between them a cam-head 28, carried at the forward end of a rocker-bar 29, mounted in suitable brackets 30, the rear end of the rocker-bar being controlled by a lever 31 directly in front of the platform occupied by the operator standing on the ma- From the larger section chine. By oscillating the lever 31 to the right or left the bar 29 is rocked accordingly, thereby oscillating the cam-head 28 first in one direction and then the other. This in turn oscillates the clutch-lever 27 in one direction or the other, thus shifting the clutch 26 in proper direction to cause the same to force either one wheel 19 or the other 19' against its corresponding collar 25 25 on the shaft 20, imparting rotation to the latter first in one direction and then the other at the will of the operator, and thus driving the machine over the floor in any desired direction. The wheels 21 are positively driven and may be denominated as the front wheels. The rear wheels 21 of course serve merely to support the rear end of the machine. They are carried by the rear truck 32, which is mounted pivotally, so as to be capable of a limited horizontal oscillation to permit the necessary steeringofthemachine. Thisi'saccomplished by the steering-staff 33, coupled to said truck and provided with a handle 34. No claim is made to this feature, as the same is well understood in the art.

The shafts or axes of the surfacing drums or rollers 7 7' are carried in sectional bearingblocks 35, the latter being free to move up and down in suitable ways 36 at the opposite corners of the frame F. The ways 36 are formed by two angle-irons or angle-pieces 37, which are united at their diagonal opposite corners by pins 38, passing through lugs or cars 39, formed at the end of one angle-iron and embracing the body portion of the adjacent angle-piece. On either side of the blocks and confined within the ways are coiled springs 40, (or their equivalent,) which may be compressed to any degree by theplungers 41, carried at the ends of the terminal arms of a U-shaped frame 42, said arms passing through open slots 43, formed in the anglepieces at the upper ends of the ways 36, the said frame 42 being pivotally connected at its center with the adjacent end of a bent lever 44, pivoted. to the housing F. The adjacent ends of the respective levers 44 are pivotally connected by a link 45 to the adjacent end of a pedal-lever 46, pivotallymounted on top of the machine-frame F, said lever being operated by the foot of the operator and locked in any position to which the same has been tilted by a toothed rack 47. By depressing the rear end of the foot-lever the forward end draws on the link 45, the latter thus forcing the outer ends of the levers 44 downward and depressing the frames 42 42 and their corresponding plungers 41. The latter in turn compress the springs 40, depressing the blockbearings 35 and forcing the drums firmly (but yieldingly) against the floor to be operated on. By making the ways 36 out of two sections of angle-irons 37 and by removing the top pin 38, by which they are connected, one section can be swung out of the way in the event occasion arises to disassemble the parts. By thus swinging the outer section 37 outwardly (the slot 43 permitting said outward swing, Fig 10) the parts may be readily disassembled and as readily assembled, as is obvious, or in the event it is desirable to introduce new springs or new bearings into the ways the advantage of the construction referred to at once becomes apparent.

While the pedal-lever 46is used to depress or force the abrading-drums 7 7 against the floor, yet by the interposition of the springs 40 and the movable bearings 35 between said drums and lever it is apparent that when the lever is once set and held to any tension (by the toothed rack 47) the drums will yield to any unevenness of the surface operated on, and a uniform abrasion or finish of the surface results. Again, by the interposition of the said springs all jarring of the machine disappears, the drums operating smoothly with least vibration and yielding to any resistance which the surface may offer at unexpected moments.

Primarily the machine is intended for sandpapering the floor, and initially there is prepared a sheet of sandpaper in the form of a blank a, substantially as shown in Fig. 8, said blank having corner-wings a. This blank is wrapped about the periphery of the drum and allowed to overlap about a quarter of the drums periphery, the wings a being subsequently folded around the terminal peripheral flange of the drum so as to bear against the inner surface of said flange or shell of the drum. Thus wrapped the sheet is held in position by the curved head 48 of ascrew-threaded stem 49, which enters an adjusting-nut 50, passed about a second stationary stem 51, projecting from the axis of the drum. By turning the nut 50 in the proper direction the adjustable stem 49, with its head 48, is forced against the inwardly-folded wings (0', whereby the sandpaper sheet is held firmly in place. Of course in lieu of sandpaper and at the conclusion of the sandpapering operation any other 'character of sheet may be Wrapped about the drum, depending on the nature of the operation to which the floor is to be subjected. By surfacing-machine is herein meant any kind of finishing, polishing, or sandpapering machine.

In operating the machine the operator causes one or the other of the sprockets-l9 19 to be coupled to the shaft 20, whereupon the machine advances in one direction or the other, it being understood that the motor is running and that the main shaft S is rotating, imparting rotation in proper direction to the drums 7 7 By depressing the foot-lever 46 the drums are brought into yielding contact with the floor, and the surfacing or sand-papering of the floor takes place. This contact may be slight or great, depending on the degree to which the lever 46 has been depressed. The scrapings and dust will be drawn by the exhaust fan or blower B into the sack A, whence it may be emptied from time to time. By turning the switch E in proper direction the power may be cut off, as is obvious.

I do not, of course, wish to limit myself to the precise details here shown, as they may in a measure be departed from without in any wise departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a floor-surfacing machine, a machineframe, a suitable drum, vertical ways at opposite ends of the frame, bearing-blocks confined in the Ways and supporting the drum, coiled springs on opposite sides of the respective bearing-blocks, aplunger for each upper spring, frames having terminal arms coupled to the plungers, levers connected to the frames, a link coupling the adjacent ends of the levers, and a pedal-lever connected to the link, the parts operating substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a floor-surfacing machine, a suitable machine-frame, vertical ways at each end thereof,slidingbearings mounted in said ways, springs confined in the ways above and below the bearings, a drum mounted in the bearings at each end of the machine, suitable gearing for rotating the drums toward the lower edge of the frame, drive-wheels for the machine, gearing for driving the same in either direction, an exhaust-fan, a suitable motor for the gearing and fan, U-shaped frames having terminal arms, a plunger at the end of each arm bearing against the upper springs of the sliding bearings, levers connected to the frames, a link coupling the adjacent ends of the levers, and a pedal-lever connected to the link, the parts operating substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a floor-surfacing machine, a suitable drum, vertical ways composed of two separable sections, bearing-blocks confined in the ways and supporting the drum, one of said sections being adapted to be pivotally swung out of engagement with the adjacent section, coiled springs on opposite sides of the respective bearing-blocks, a plunger for each upper spring, a U-shapedframe having terminal arms coupled to the plungers, the upper end of the swinging section of the way being provided with an open slot for the passage of the arm of the U-shaped frame, and means coupled to the frame for raising or depressing the same at the will of the operator, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAX L. SGHLUETER.

Witnesses:

-EMIL STAREK,

M. B. BELT. 

